Cable joint



Nov. 1, '1927.

A. O. -IOEFTMANN 'CABLE JOINT Filed April 11 1924 wNov. 1, 1927.

A. o. HOEFTMANN CABLE JOINT Filed April 11, 1924 Kga 2 Sheets-Sheet Z ALEXANDER D. HOEFTMANN, OF WORCESTER, NIILSSL(tlisjll11S7 ASSIGNOR T0 THE- am .Film1 e erster AMERICAN STEEL AND WIRE COMBANY OF NEW JERSEY, A CORPORTION 03T NEW JERSEY.

Canna Joiner.

Application tiled April 11, 1924. Serial No. 705,830.

This inventionl rela-tes to cable joints, and

more particularly to joints for armored electric cables ot' the submarine type,.and has for its object to provide a more simple and substantial joint than heretofore used.

Previous methods ot forming. armored cable joints have made use ot brazing or weldingr the armor to a metal tube, which requires excessive heat and somewhat complicated apparatus in order to perform the operation. Such excessive heat is injurious to the insulation of the conductors within the cable. Furthermore, such apparatus as is necessary to form such joints is not always available nor adaptable under existing cable laying conditions.

The present invention provides a joint that may readily be made with the use of simple apparatus, and no excessive heat is devel oped to injure the cable insulation.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 1xl show a complete joint, one-half, being,` in section for purpose of clearness. y

Figure 2 is a side elevation of lone end of a joint', showing the armor wires secured to the sleeve before the molten metal is applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line IIL-IH of Figure 1.

Figure4 is a side elevation partly in seo tion of one of the coupling sleeves.

Figure 5 is an end view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the ends of the cable which `are joined. The cablesv2 and 3 are of the usual well known wire armored type, comprising a plurality of conductors 4 encased in insulation 5 and armored and bound together by Wires 6.

The ends of the conductors 4 have the in sulation removed and are stepped down, as at 7, to receivetlie conductor connecting sleeves 8., The sleeves 8v are composed of copper and are of a slightly greater diameter than the conductors 4c, so as to provide clearance forV molten solder 9 which is poured into the sleeves 8, after they are secured on the conductors, through pour-holes 10. i The sleeves 8 are also provided with holes 11 at diametrically opposite points from the holes 10 and ot a much smaller diameter than the holes 10, these holes being for the purpose of allowing the escape of air from the sleeves 8 when pouring the solder, and thereby pering the conductors f1.

mitt-ing the formation of a. more perfect joint.

l The original insulation 5 on the conduc tors 4 is removed or pared away in baring the conductors for the mounting of the sleeves 8. Therefore, after the sleeves are secured in place a quantity of new insulation 12 is 'formed around the conductors and sleeves to electrically separate the several conductors.

A suitable tie and spacing' collar 1d is provided to hold the several conductors in assembled position during the completion of the joint.

A vsleeve 15 is mounted around each cable being joined, at a point slightly back from the end thereof. The sleeves 15 are provided at their rear ends with a peripheral shoulder 16, the upper :tace of which tapers downwardly vand rearwardly; A plurality of longitudinally extending flanges or ribs 17 are provided on the shoulder 16 and serve as spacing members -for the armor wires of the cable. The ribs 17 also prevent sidewise movement of the armor wires on the sleeve. The forward end or' the sleeve 15 is provided with a screw thread lange'll, which terminates at its inner end in a shoulder 20.

The armor wires 6 are passed over the sleeve 15 and are provided with seizing; wires 21 on the sleeve 15 between the shoulders 16 and 2O to firmly connect the parts. Other seizing wires 22 are at a point on 'the cable just beyond the sleeve 15 to hold thevvires firmly against the shoulder 16.

In order .to complete the joining of the sleeve 15 with the cable armor and the forming of a secure and watertight connection, a'quantity of molten zinc, babbitt, or the like, is moulded around the sleeve 15 and armor wires 6, as at 24, so as to integrally unite these parts.

After vthe sleeves 15 are secured in ositiun they are connected to complete the joint byI a tubular connecting member 25, havin left and right hand threaded ends adapted to be screwed onto the screw threaded flanges 19 of the sleeves 15. The member 25 is adapted to be screwed u on the danges 19 until the sleeves 15 are rawn toward each other a sulcient distance to remove all strain from thesleeve connections 8 The connecting member 25 is provided connectn Y, fore, it will be understood l due to their peculiar shape,

with screw threaded apertures 26 adjacent each end for the reception oi suitable lock ing set screws 27, which are adapted to bear against the threaded langes 19 of the sleeves l5 and thus" prevent the unscrevving or loosening of the connecting member.

The joint as so far described may be considered complete. However, to increase its service and utility I prefer to add a filling of,x insulating compornd 30 within the member 25 and sleeves li ln order to i'ill this compound Within the connecting member 25' and sleeves 15, l provide a filling oi jute, asbestos, or the like 28 between the armor Wires 6 and conductors when Jvastening the wires 6 to the sleeves 15, and also provide a pounhole 29 in the member 25, through which the compound molten state to completely fill the space between the conductors and connectin niembers The pour-hole 29 is closed, a er the compound has been poured into the joint, by a screw threaded plug 3l.

The 'oint is of duplicate construction on each si e o its transverse center end,'there that the parts shown in section in Figure 1 are duplicated on the other side of the transverse center line which is shown in elevation.

Joints constructed in accordance with this invention have many advantages over the prior art. They are stronger, are easily made without the use of skilled mechanics, or complicated or expensive apparatus, and, they are readily ada ted for passage over a shcavc roller or the ilie.

While I have shown and describedonly one specic embodiment oit my invention, it vvill be understood that l do not Wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications unay be made Without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

claim-m l., A joint for use with Wire armored electric cables, comprising means for connecting the conductors of said cable, a sleeve meniher ,fnounted on each oi the cable ends to be joined, said sleeve members beinggeach pron vided with a circumferential recess 'terminating at its rear end in a square shoulder, the armor wires of said cable ends being posi tioned on said sleeves and depressed into said recess so as to `torni a sharp bend over said shoulder, seizing Wires secured around the portion ot said armor wires depressed in said recess for holding said armor Wires in position, other seizing Wires secured around said armor Wires immediately beyond the rear ends ci said sleeves to force said armor Wires against said square shoulder on said sleeve, said sleeves, said armor Wires and said seizincI wires around the portion of said armor Wires depressed in recess, all being se- 30 may be poured in aV cured together by a body ot metal termed around said sleeves and wires in a molten state, and means for adjustably securing said sleeves together.

2. A joint for use with wire armored electric cables, comprising means for connecting the conductors of said cable, a sleeve member mounted on' each of the cable ends to be joined, said sleeve members being each pro vided with a circumferential recess terminating at its rear end in a square shoulder, the armor Wires of said cable ends being positioned on said sleeves and depressed into said recess so as to form a sharp bend over said shoulder, seizing Wires secured around the portion of said armor Wires depressed in said recess for holding said armor wires in posi tion, other seizing wires secured around said armor wires immediately beyond the rear ends of said sleeves to ,force vsaid armor Wires against said square shoulder on said sleeve, and a tubular connecting member a screw threaded connection with each of said sleeve members for adjustably securing; said sleeve members togethern 3. A joint for use 'with Wire armored electric cables, comprising, means for connecting the conductors of said cable, a sleeve member mountedon each of ythe cable ends to be joined, said sleeve members being each provided With a circumferential recess terminating at its rear end in a square shoulder, the armor Wires of said cable ends being positioned on said sleeves and depressed into said recess so as to form a sharp bend over said shoulder, said sleeves and said armor Wires being secured together by a bodyv of metal formed around said sleeves and .Wires in a molten state, and a tubular connecting member having a screw threaded connection with cach of said sleeve members 'for adjustably securing said sleeve members together.

4. A joint for use vwith Wire armored electric cables, comprising means 'for connecting the conductorsof said cable, a sleeve member' mounted on each of the cable ends to be joined. said sleeve members havingl 4a materially larger internal diameter than the diameter of said cable ends and being; each provided with a circumferential recess terminating at its rear end in a square shoulder. the armor Wires of said cable ends being kpositioned on said sleeves and depressed into said recess so as to form a sharp bend over said shoulder, seizing Wires secured around the portion of said armor vviiesfdepressed in said recess for holding said armor Wires in position. other seizing wires. secured around said armor Wires immediately beyond the rear ends ci said sleeves to force said armor Wires against said square shoulder on said sleeve, a tubular connecting .member havingf a screw threaded connection with each of said sleeve members 'for drawing said sleeves toward each other to coinpleiethe joint, said member being provided with a relatively small opening` in its side wall and a body of insulating material between said sleeves and said tubular connecting member and said cable ends, said insu1at ing material being ada ted fo be poured into the space between sai sleeves end tubular connecting member and said cable emile through said small opening lin the eide 'Wall of said tubular connecting member emi seid il@ joint is assembled.' l

I n witness whereof I have hereunto signed ALEXANDER o. HoEFTMNN. 

